Even with mentoring ministries and simple, no-pressure gatherings like “coffee and conversation,” many young women ages 22-35 are walking away from the faith they learned as children and students.
A 2020 Barna poll showed a 12% decline in weekly church attendance. Baptist Press reported in a January 2026 article that the top five reasons young adults are leaving the church include moving, perceptions that members seemed judgmental or hypocritical, a lack of connection, disagreement with political or social issues, and work responsibilities that prevented regular attendance.
This trend has led some popular women’s social media influencers and authors to offer “deconstruction kits,” designed to help those struggling with faith questions “take apart” and consider each Christian truth in order for them to find “their own truth” outside of the faith.
Yet the primary factor in what it would take for young people to reconsider these decisions is connection. Meaningful relationships within the local church matter deeply, both with peers and with older adults from whom they can learn and grow in their walk with Christ. This desire for connection and discipleship is biblical, rooted in the model outlined in Titus 2
Although the Women’s Ministry of the SBC of Virginia does not track age as a demographic for its events, it is clear that more younger women are attending than ever before. One significant factor is the intentional inclusion of young leaders on the Women’s Ministry Leadership team, which is crucial to helping younger women feel seen, valued, and heard. Offering events that blend traditional and contemporary praise while also being built on solid Bible teaching and practical breakout sessions is paying off by drawing young adults and teens. Girls and young women are welcome to attend with their moms, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers.
In addition, the partnership with Lifeway has enabled SBCV Women’s Ministry to continue offering high-quality events and nationally recognized speakers to Virginia. Below are some of the opportunities currently available through SBCV Women’s Ministry and Lifeway. ●
